FR3031343A1 - DEVICE FOR CONDITIONING AND DISPENSING A PRODUCT, AND ASSOCIATED DELIVERY METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) comprises: - a container (12) defining an interior volume (14) for containing the product; - A dispensing head, mounted on the container (12), the dispensing head defining a product distribution channel (36) opening upstream in an upstream opening placed opposite the internal volume (14) and downstream in a bowl (38) located at the end of the distribution channel (36), the bowl (38) opening outwardly. The dispensing head is sealingly mounted on the container (12), the dispensing channel (36) being delimited by a sealing surface along its entire length between the upstream opening and the bowl (38), to allow the formation of a drop (40) of product in the cuvette (38) by raising the product in the distribution channel (36).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and dispensing a product, comprising: - a container, defining an interior volume for containing the product; - A dispensing head, mounted on the container, the dispensing head defining a product distribution channel opening upstream in an upstream opening placed opposite the internal volume and downstream in a bowl located at the end of the distribution channel , the bowl opening outwards.

Such a device is intended to condition and accurately distribute at least one cosmetic product on a body surface of a user, such as the skin or hair of the user. In particular, the device is intended to form drops or pearls of cosmetic product, with a dosage controlled by the user. The drops are applied especially on the skin, for example on the face. The cosmetic product is advantageously a serum, a gel, a hydrating formula, an anti-wrinkle formula, an anti-stain formulation, or an anti-spot formula. Preferably, the cosmetic product has a fluid form, with a viscosity adapted to form and maintain a drop.

More generally, a cosmetic product is a product as defined in Regulation EC No. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and Council, dated November 30, 2009, relating to cosmetic products. In order to package and dispense serum-type products, it is known to use packaging and dispensing devices that include pumps, pipettes, and airless dispensers ("airless"). These devices have complex and generally expensive mechanisms. In addition, these devices do not allow the user to achieve a precise and personalized dosage of the product. Moreover, the product is generally distributed on the hand, before being applied on the body surface intended to receive it, which complicates the gestures and can pose hygiene problems. US4239132 discloses a deformable container, at the end of which is mounted without sealing a dispensing head having a cannula. An air pocket is contained in the container. The bag is filled progressively by passage of air between the dispensing head and the container. Such a container is used upside down.

US3937364 and EP1279607 disclose containers for respectively producing foam or spray, by mixing the product dispensed with a gas.

FR 2924696, WO2011055114, US3973701, WO 03074370, and WO 2011154397 disclose other product dispensing devices. An object of the invention is to obtain, at lower cost, a packaging and dispensing device that nevertheless allows a precise and metered distribution of a fluid product on a body surface of a user, with improved gestures. To this end, the invention relates to a device of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the dispensing head is sealingly mounted on the container, the dispensing channel being delimited by a sealed surface along its entire length between the upstream opening and the bowl, to allow the formation of a drop of product, in the bowl by raising the product in the distribution channel. The device according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or in any technically possible combination: the container contains a fluid product; - It comprises a cap removably mounted on the head between a closed position of the head and a release position of the head, the cover preferably comprising a closing projection of the bowl inserted into the bowl in the closed position of the head; the bowl has a cross section of constant, increasing, and / or decreasing area; the container is chosen from a bottle, a tube, a sachet, a pump bottle; - The bowl has a bottom, the distribution channel having a downstream opening formed in the bottom of the bowl, preferably in the center of the bottom of the bowl. - The downstream opening has a cross section of area less than the area of the bottom of the bowl. - The distribution channel has a cross section, upstream and in the vicinity of the downstream opening area greater than the cross sectional area of the downstream opening. - The dispensing head comprises a mounting band on the container, and a cannula projecting along a dispensing axis relative to the hoop, the bowl being formed at a free end of the cannula. - The distribution channel opens out along the distribution axis in the bowl. the cannula comprises a peripheral wall defining the bowl, and an outer coating applied to the peripheral wall, and / or at least one relief projecting from the peripheral wall, the coating and / or the relief being able to come into contact with a body surface. - The cannula is rigidly mounted relative to the hoop or in which at least one outer portion of the cannula is movably mounted relative to the hoop. - The dispensing head is at least partially transparent to allow viewing the product distribution through the distribution channel. - The dispensing head is made in one piece by being made of material. - The device comprises a dip tube sealingly mounted on the dispensing head around the upstream opening of the dispensing channel or in the upstream opening of the dispensing channel, the dip tube being received in the inner volume. - The container and / or the dispensing head are deformable axially or laterally between the fingers of a user to cause the product distribution. The invention also relates to a product dispensing method on a body surface of a user, comprising the following steps: - providing a container as defined above; - product distribution from the interior volume through the distribution channel, to the bowl; - formation of at least one drop on the bowl, without air intake in the distribution channel and in the interior volume; - application of the drop on the body surface of the user. The method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically possible combination: the drop has at least one transverse dimension greater than 1 mm; the method comprises depositing a product line on the body surface; - The formation of the drop is obtained by manual deformation of the container and / or the head. - The drop is applied directly to the body surface by bringing the dispensing head and the bowl closer to the body surface. - The device is maintained with its dispensing head above the container during the formation of the drop and advantageously, when it is applied to the body surface. The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will follow, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a view taken in section, according to a plan axial axis, a first device for packaging and dispensing according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a view taken in section, along a median axial plane, of the dispensing head of the device of Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a view of a detail of the free end of the dispensing head; - Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the device of Figure 1, during the distribution of a drop, for its application on a body surface of a user; - Figures 5 to 7 are views similar to Figure 3, illustrating dispensing heads of different devices according to the invention; - Figures 8 to 19 illustrate other variants of devices according to the invention. In what follows, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the normal flow of a product. The terms "inside" and "outside" refer to the content of the device. The terms "inferior" and "superior" refer to the orientations chosen in the figures. A first device 10 for packaging and dispensing a product is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. The product intended to be packaged and dispensed by the device 10 is in particular a cosmetic product, for example a serum, a gel, a formula moisturizing, an anti-wrinkle formula, an anti-stain formula, or an anti-spot formula. Preferably, the cosmetic product is in fluid form, with a viscosity suitable for forming and maintaining a droplet. Referring to Figure 1, the first device 10 comprises a container 12 defining an interior volume 14 for receiving the product, a product dispensing head 16, mounted on the container 12, and a sealing assembly 18 ensuring a tight fitting of the dispensing head 16 on the container 12. Advantageously, the device 10 comprises a dip tube 20 mounted under the head 16 to plunge into the container 12, and a cap 22 removably mounted around the head 16.

The container 12 is a bottle in this example. It extends here along a longitudinal axis AA 'shown vertical in Figure 1. The container 12 has a bottom wall 24 and a side wall 26 defining the interior volume 14. It further comprises a neck 28 protruding from the side wall 26, on which the distribution head 16 is mounted.

The neck 28 extends here along the axis A-A '. The interior volume 14 opens outwards through the neck 28.

In FIG. 1, the neck 28 and the lateral wall 26 delimit between them a peripheral shoulder 30 for supporting the dispensing head 16. The container 12, and more particularly its lateral wall 26 are able to be deformed by pinching between the fingers of a user, to reduce the internal volume 14 and increase the internal pressure in the interior volume 14, causing the product distribution to the outside. The container 12 is deformable laterally to the axis A-A 'or / and axially along the axis A-A'. In this example, the walls 24, 26 and the neck 28 of the container 12 are made in one piece by being made of material, for example polypropylene, a mixture of polyethylenes. The dispensing head 16 has a peripheral hoop 32, extending around the neck 28, and a product dispensing cannula 34 projecting opposite the container 12 with respect to the hoop 32. The dispensing head 16 delimits, in the cannula 34, an axial product distribution channel 36 opening outwardly of the device 10 through a product droplet forming bowl 38, one of which is visible in FIG. 4. The ferrule 32 is extends around the axis A-A '. She is here oval. It defines an internal space 41 receiving the neck 28 and the sealing assembly 18. It has a lower edge 42A disposed bearing on the shoulder 30 and a curved shape converging towards the axis A-A 'at the level of the In this example, the cannula 34 projects along the axis AA 'in the extension of the band 32, opposite the container 12. With reference to FIG. 2, the cannula 34 comprises a peripheral wall hollow shaft 42, and an inner transverse wall 44, disposed in the hollow peripheral wall 42 to separate the bowl 38 from the axial channel 36, as shown in Figure 3. It further advantageously comprises a mounting skirt 45A of the tube plunger 20, when a dip tube 20 is present in the device 10. It comprises mounting notches 45 for guiding the dip tube 20 in the mounting skirt 45A. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the hollow peripheral wall 42 has an upper region 46, advantageously converging towards the axis AA 'while moving away from the band 32, and an end protrusion 48, making protruding radially from the upper region 46 at the free end of the cannula 34.

The hollow peripheral wall 42 advantageously has an external thread for retaining the cover 22.

The end protuberance 48 here has a ball shape. The bowl 38 is formed in the protrusion 48. The distribution channel 36 extends axially through the cannula 34, in the peripheral wall 42, from an upstream opening 50 to the internal partition 44. It is connected to the bowl 38 by a downstream opening 52 visible in Figure 3, defining a constriction. According to the invention, the distribution channel 36 is delimited externally by a sealed surface along its entire length between the upstream opening 50 and the bowl 38. Thus, the distribution channel 36 opens exclusively on the one hand, in the opening upstream 50 and secondly, in the bowl 38 through the downstream opening 52. No intermediate gas or liquid inlet is present in the distribution channel 36, which allows to convey the product present in the volume inside 14 by rising in liquid form, maintaining it homogeneous, and ensuring accurate dosing.

The distribution channel 36 advantageously has a height, taken along the axis A-A ', greater than the depth of the bowl 38, taken along the same axis A-A'. The bowl 38 opens outwards. It advantageously has a cross section, taken perpendicular to the axis A-A ', of increasing area outwards, moving away from the ferrule 32. The bowl 38 is delimited transversely inwards by a bottom 54 defined on the intermediate partition 44, and a lateral surface 56 defined internally by the peripheral wall 42. In this example, the bottom 54 is flat. It has an area for example between 3 mm 2 and 20 mm 2. The downstream opening 52 opens here at the center of the bottom 54, along the axis A-A '. The lateral surface 56 has a substantially frustoconical shape. The height of the bowl, taken from the bottom 54 along the axis A-A 'is for example between 0.5 mm and 5 mm. The lateral surface 56 is located at the protuberance 48.

The bottom area 54 is greater than the cross sectional area of the downstream opening 52. In addition, the cross sectional area of the channel 36 is greater than the cross sectional area of the opening. downstream 52. In this example, the cannula 34 and the hoop 32 are made in one piece being made of material, for example polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polybuthylene terephthalate.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one region of the cannula 34, advantageously the entire cannula 34 is made from a transparent material for observing the rise of the product through the channel 34 to the bowl 38. The material is transparent to visible light, for example for wavelengths between 400 nm and 800 nm. The mounting skirt 45A of the dip tube 20 projects towards the container 12 above the upstream opening 50. It is sealingly connected to the peripheral wall 42 to ensure a seal around the dip tube 20 when the dip tube 20 is inserted into the mounting skirt 45A.

Thus, the content of the dip tube 20 opens exclusively downstream in the distribution channel 36. The sealing assembly 18 comprises in this example at least one annular projection 60 formed on the neck 28, an outer skirt 62, intended to cooperate sealingly with the annular projection 60, and an inner skirt 64, for insertion into the neck 28 to clamp the neck 28 between the inner skirt 64 and the outer skirt 62. The outer skirt 62 and the inner skirt 64 are projecting axially towards the container 12 in the inner space 41 from the band 32. They are preferably made in one piece with the band 32. Thus, the mounting of the dispensing head 16 on the neck 28 is sealed , preventing the penetration of gas between the dispensing head 16 and the neck 28. The internal volume 14 opens exclusively through the distribution channel 36, without risk of leakage. The cover 22 is removably mounted on the cannula 34 between a closed position of the dispensing head 16 and a release position of the dispensing head 16. It advantageously has a sealing projection 70 suitable for insertion into the the bowl 38 to close the downstream aperture 52 or seal by crushing on the surface 56 in the closed position. The dip tube 20 is sealingly mounted in the skirt 45A. It extends through the interior volume 14 to the vicinity of the bottom wall 24. It opens upstream in the interior volume 14 and downstream in the distribution channel 36.

The operation of the first device 10 according to the invention will now be described. Initially, device 10 containing product is provided to the user. The dispensing head 16 is mounted in a sealed manner on the neck 28 of the container 12. Advantageously, the cover 22 occupies its closed position of the head 16 ensuring confinement of the product received in the interior volume 14.

When the user wishes to apply cosmetic product to a body surface 80 visible in FIG. 4, for example on the face, he passes the cover 22 in its release position of the head 16, away from the head 16. The bowl 38 is then open towards the outside of the device 10. It opens into a totally free volume of gas. The user holds the device 10 with its head 16 at the top. It exerts pressure on the container 12, for example by pinching the side wall 26 to deform laterally to the axis A-A 'and / or axially along the axis A-A'. The internal volume 14 decreases, causing the product to rise through the dip tube 20 when it is present. The product reaches the upstream opening 50 and rises in the dispensing channel 36 to the downstream opening 52. When at least one region of the cannula 34 is transparent, the user adjusts the pressure applied to the container 12 by depending on the desired rate of rise of the product in the channel 34 and the amount of product to be dispensed. The product then enters the bowl 38 and accumulates therein to form a drop 40. The concave flared shape of the bowl 38 serves as a base for the product to form the drop 40. In addition, in the case where the downstream opening 52 is located in the center of the bottom 54 of the bowl 38, the product is distributed uniformly in the bowl 38, which promotes the formation of the drop 40. The drop generally has a volume of between 1 mm3 and 5 mm3. The channel 36 being bounded throughout its length by a sealed surface, the amount of product rising in the channel 36 and therefore, the size of the drop 40 directly depends on the pressure applied to the container 12. No air intake in the internal volume 14 does not occur during the formation of the drop 14. This greatly facilitates the dosage of the product, and the formation of a drop 40 of appropriate size. The user then moves the drop 40 held at the end of the cannula 34 to the body surface 80, and directly applies the drop 40 to the body surface 80, without having to go through a finger or other body surface. The gesture of use of the device 10, for the formation and the application of product drops 40 is therefore particularly simple, precise and very hygienic. In a variant, the head 16 of the device 10 is slid along the body surface 80, exerting a continuous pressure on the reservoir 12 to distribute the product in the form of a line. Optionally, after the dispensing of product, the end of the cannula 34 is used to effect a massage, for example a pressure on the body surface 80, an activation of the microcirculation of the body surface 80, or an aid to the penetration of the body. produced in the body surface 80.

The device 10 thus ensures packaging and simple, accurate and hygienic dispensing of the product, while being inexpensive to produce, especially when the head 16 and the container 12 are each made in one piece. Thus, the device comprises between 2 and 4 pieces, depending on the possible presence of a cap 22 and a dip tube 20.

Device variants 10 according to the invention are illustrated successively in FIGS. 5 to 19. The head 16 of the device represented in FIG. 5 differs from that of the device represented in FIG. 2 in that the bowl 38 has a conical shape, devoid of flat bottom. The head 16 of the device of Figure 6 differs from that of the device shown in Figure 3 in that the bowl 38 has a constant cross section from the bottom 54. The side surface 56 is cylindrical. The head 16 of the device of Figure 7 has a bowl 38 with a bottom 54 diverging away from the axis AA 'moving outwards, and with a side surface 56 which converges towards the axis AA' by moving outward.

More generally, the contour of the cross section of the bowl 38 is curved, for example circular or elliptical, or is polygonal, for example rectangular or square. The head 16 of the device of Figure 8 differs from the head 16 of the device of Figure 2 in that it has massaging reliefs 90 at the protuberance 48. These reliefs 90 are for example pins or notches. The head 16 of Figure 9 has reliefs 90 in the form of rings of revolution about the axis A-A '. The head 16 of the device of FIG. 10 has no end protuberance 48. The head 16 of the device of FIG. 11 has a protuberance 48 in the form of a hemisphere delimiting a flat upper edge 92, advantageously extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis A-A '. The head 16 of the device of FIG. 12 has a protuberance 48 of ovoid shape. The head 16 of the device illustrated in Figure 13 has an outer coating attached to the protrusion 48, here made of metal. Alternatively, the coating is an elastomeric, ceramic, flocked (see FIG. 14), fabric, or sponge coating.

In the previous embodiments, the cannula 34 advantageously protrudes rigidly relative to the band 32. In the variant illustrated in FIG. 15, at least one upper portion 94 of the cannula 34 advantageously comprises the protuberance 48 is mounted relative to the at a lower portion 96 of the cannula 34, and relative to the hoop 32 being articulated for example around a flexible region 98, preferably made of elastomer. In the variant of Figure 16, the protuberance 48 has an upper edge 92 plane, inclined relative to the axis AA 'of an angle strictly less than 900. This edge 92 allows the formation of a drop 40 along an axis inclined with respect to the axis A-A '.

In the variant shown in Figure 17, the hoop 32 is at least partially compressible, preferably axially, to allow the product distribution. The device of Figure 18 differs from that of Figure 1 in that the container 12 is a bag. The device of Figure 19 differs from that of Figure 1 in that the container 12 is a tube. Alternatively, (not shown), the container 12 is a pump bottle.

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. - Device (10) for packaging and dispensing a product, comprising: - a container (12) defining an interior volume (14) for containing the product; - A dispensing head (16), mounted on the container (12), the dispensing head (16) defining a product distribution channel (36) opening upstream in an upstream opening (50) placed opposite the internal volume (14) and downstream in a cuvette (38) located at the end of the distribution channel (36), the bowl (38) opening outwardly; characterized in that the dispensing head (16) is sealingly mounted on the container (12), the dispensing channel (36) being delimited by a sealed surface along its entire length between the upstream opening (50) and the bowl (38), to allow the formation of a drop (40) of product in the cuvette (38) by raising the product in the distribution channel (36). 2. - Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the bowl (38) has a bottom (54), the distribution channel (36) having a downstream opening (52) formed in the bottom (54) of the bowl (38), preferably in the center of the bottom (54) of the bowl (38). 3. - Device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the downstream opening (52) has a cross section of area less than the bottom area (54) of the bowl (38). 4. - Device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the distribution channel (36) has a cross section, upstream and in the vicinity of the downstream opening (52) of area greater than the area of the section transverse of the downstream opening (52). 5. - Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing head (16) comprises a hoop (32) for mounting on the container (12), and a cannula (34) projecting along an axis (A-A ') of distribution relative to the hoop (32), the bowl (38) being formed at a free end of the cannula (34). 6. - Device (10) according to claim 5, wherein the distribution channel (36) opens out along the axis of distribution (A-A ') in the bowl (38). 7. - Device (10) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the cannula (34) comprises a peripheral wall (42) defining the bowl (38), and an outer coating applied to the peripheral wall (42). ), or / and at least one relief (90) protruding from the peripheral wall (42), the coating and / or the relief being adapted to come into contact with a body surface (80). 8. - Device (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the cannula (34) is rigidly mounted relative to the hoop (32) or wherein at least one outer portion (94) of the cannula (34) is movably mounted relative to the hoop (32). 9. - Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing head (16) is at least partially transparent to allow viewing of the product distribution through the distribution channel (36). 10. - Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing head (16) is made in one piece by being made of material. 11. - Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a dip tube (20) sealingly mounted on the dispensing head (16) around the upstream opening (50) of the distribution channel (36). ) or in the upstream opening (50) of the distribution channel (36), the dip tube (20) being received in the interior volume (14). 12. - Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (12) and / or the dispensing head (16) are deformable axially or laterally between the fingers of a user to cause the distribution of product. 13. - Method of dispensing product onto a body surface (80) of a user, comprising the following steps: - providing a container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims; - dispensing product from the interior volume (14) through the dispensing channel (36) to the bowl (38); - forming at least one drop (40) on the bowl (38), without air inlet in the distribution channel (36) and in the interior volume (14); - Application of the drop (40) on the body surface (80) of the user. The method of claim 13, wherein the drop (40) is applied directly to the body surface (80) by bringing the dispensing head (16) and the bowl (38) closer to the body surface (80). 15. - Method according to any one of claims 13 or 14, wherein the device (10) is held with its dispensing head (16) above the container (12) during the formation of the drop (40) and advantageously, when it is applied to the body surface (80).